Dorchester Times: Bob Kasl Passes At 94; Services Set For Jan. 9

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Bob Kasl Passes At 94; Services Set For Jan. 9

Dorchester farmer and civic leader Robert “Bob” Kasl, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Seward at the age of 94.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, Jan. 9, at 11 a.m. at Sokol Hall in Wilber. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 8, from 4 - 7 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

Bob was born on March 9, 1931, in Dorchester to George F. Kasl, Sr. and Emma Rezabek. He grew up on a farm south of Dorchester along with his eight siblings. He attended District #62 school through the eighth grade and later received his high school diploma. Due to hard times, Bob and his brothers Junior and Rich, left school and went to work to help build the Lincoln West "O Street" via dock. Bob served in the Army National Guard from 1950 to 1958. In March 1953, he was located in Kansas and Colorado bases and in April 1955 in Okinawa.

Bob met his wife, Marva while she was working at her parent’s business, the Halfway Station. They were married on December 30, 1955, during the Army's Christmas break. They rented their first home south of Dorchester, where they lived for a few years and later moved closer to Dorchester and rented a farmhouse for several years. In 1967 they were excited to purchase the farm where they built a new home and resided for several years raising their family until they moved into town in 1998. They were married for 69 years and were able to celebrate their 70th Anniversary together on December 30th.

Bob and Marva had five children, Robert Wayne (Bobby), Sandra Lyn (Sandy), Jeanine Joyce (Jean), Judith Faye (Judy) and Bradley Alan (Brad). While their family was growing up, Bob took part in many of their activities, including being a Dorchester School Board member for over 25 years. He was proud to be a member of the Dorchester American Legion Post #264 for over 70 years, which he held many offices at the local and state levels. Bob and Marva enjoyed traveling to several Legion and Auxiliary meetings and conventions across the states. Bob was also a member of the Dorchester United Methodist Church and a member of ZCBJ Tabor Lodge, where he was recently honored with his 50-year membership pin.

Bob loved farming, which he did for over 75 years. He loved to share his stories and knowledge about farming with others. Bob and Marva worked together to expand their farm operation throughout their lives. Bob continued to be active in his farming operation and kept up with the many advances of farming over the years.

Bob and Marva attended many family activities. They enjoyed teaching and helping their children, grandchildren and great children with their 4-H projects, boy scouts, parade floats and giving support in all their activities. Several family members felt Bob and Marva enjoyed participating in their activities more than the kids did! Unfortunately, Bob and Marva were faced with the loss of three children, Bobby, Jean and Brad. Their loss made them focus on what was important in life, their family.

Bob and Marva also enjoyed traveling and were fortunate to travel to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Arizona, Colorado and more. They also enjoyed going gambling. Bob would be envious if Marva won more than him! Bob loved his card games and was known to shoot the moon occasionally depending heavily on his partners for points!

Bob is survived by daughters Sandy (Chuck) Rains and Judy (Mark) Bors. Son-in-law Paul Essman, Daughter-in-law Sheri (Kevin) Schuetze. Grandchildren: Cory (Amy) Rains, Megan (Justin) Pekarek, Cassie (Tyson) Vogt, Taylor Bors, Lucas (Chelsea) Apfelbeck, Clarissa Bors, Andrew (Natalie) Essman and Samantha (Chris) Hobelman. Great Grand Children: Carly, Brody, Chloe, Jeplin, Eastyn, Judge, Madden, Burke, Callan, Grace, Chandler, Stassi, Nazaria, Snoh, Sullivan, Grey, Sunny, Lucy, Stevie, Peyton and Hudson. Great, great Grandchild: Cairo. Many friends and family.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife Marva Hayek Kasl, sons Bobby and Brad Kasl, daughter Jean Kasl Essman, his parents and siblings, in-laws and many family members.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to be designated to the Dorchester American Legion Post #264.

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home.

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Dorchester: A Good Little Family Town

Dorchester, Nebraska (est. population 630) is located in northern Saline county. Close in proximity to Interstate 80, Dorchester is only 25 minutes from the state capital of Lincoln (est. population 250,000) and about 55 minutes from Omaha (metro population 725,000).

Dorchester's median resident age is 37 years. In 2005, Dorchester had a median family income of approximately $35,600. The median house value was about $63,000. About 95 percent of Dorchester residents commute to work via Interstate and highways.

The village has a quality public school, which received a $4.1 million expansion and modernization in 2008; it offers a small classrooms and individualized attention. Total enrollment of grades K-12 is around 230-250 students.

Ancestries of the Dorchester area are primarily German (42.4%), Czech (24.9%), Irish (12.5%), English (5.4%), and Dutch (4.9%).

Dorchester Historical Facts

* On July 4, 1871, the railroad reached Dorchester.
* Incorporated in 1881, Dorchester's population grew from 200 to 500 by 1882.
* In 1882, Dorchester had 90 buildings, 35 of which were businesses or public facilities. Brick buildings lined both sides of Washington Avenue for two blocks.
* Dorchester's longest-running newspaper was The Dorchester Star, which was published until the late 1940s.
* By 1889, Dorchester's population is said to have reached 800, while the town housed an opera house, a two-story brick schoolhouse with a bell tower, and four churches.
* By the 1910s, Dorchester had electricity, a water tower and a fire department.
* Dorchester's main arteries, Highways 6 and 33, were graveled in the 1940s.
* Dorchester's first irrigation well was drilled on Chris Weber's farm and rural electrification was finished following WWII.

A Village with History

Dorchester is one of the "alphabet towns" on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad line built west from Lincoln. The town site was selected for its pleasant location in the northern part of Saline County, about eight miles west of Crete. This situation is an attractive one, being on the level prairie land, midway between the West Blue River and Turkey Creek. The first named stream is three miles north, and the latter about the same distance south from the town. Dorchester was platted in 1870 and incorporated in 1881. The name "Dorchester" came from either for a suburb of Boston by that name or a town in England. No one is sure. Two of the very first settlers were James Seely and Edward McIntyre, who both made Dorchester their permanent home.

Dorchester: In The Beginning

Here is a look at Dorchester around 1890, less than a decade after its official incorporation, as documented by Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska:
* POPULATION: "About 300, and is made up of a substantial and progressive class of citizens, who are moral and industrious. ... The town grew but very little until the year 1879, for the reason that Pleasant Hill, on Turkey Creek, a short distance south, was the county seat and naturally drew a trade for quite a large scope of country."
* BUSINESS: "The business and professional interests of the town are represented by three general merchandise stores, two drug, one grocery, one furniture, two hardware, and two millinery stores, one bank, two restaurants, two hotels, three livery stables, a post office, one newspaper office, two elevators, two lumber yards, two coal yards, two blacksmith shops, two lawyers and four physicians."
* SCHOOL: "The schoolhouse is a good one. The schoolhouse was built in 1872, since which time the public schools have been continually kept up. The present schoolhouse is 24' x 40' in size, two stories high. The school is graded and consists of three departments. The house is found too small, and arrangements will soon be made to increase its size."
* CHURCHES: "There are three substantial churches."
* HOMES: "The residence portion of the village is made up of neat houses of different styles of architecture, but none of them very large."
* NEWSPAPER: "The Dorchester Star, which was established August 21, 1881, by H. C. Bittenbender, who edited it until January 19, 1882, when he sold it to Ryerson & Bullock, the present proprietors. The Star is a bright weekly paper, five-column quarto, in size, and is Republican in politics."